Clamp connector



July 17, 1962 w. OSBORN 3,045,205

CLAMP CONNECTOR Filed June 26, 1959 INVENTOR WILLIAM q. 055 oe/u BYMZM ATTO R N EY Patented July 17, 1 962 [ice 3,045,205 CLAMP CONNECTOR William G. Osborn, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Bnrndy Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed June 26, 1959, Ser. No. 823,029

6 Claims. (Cl. 339247)' My invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to a manually operable clamp connector.

Clamp connectors presently available are either of the compression or the bolted types. In the compression type a special crimping tool is. used to secure the conductors which are held in place by hand. In the bolted type, the bolt is tightened by hand until the conductors are held fast and then mechanically tightened by wrench, screwdriver, or pliers.

Accordingly, the object of my invention is to. provide a clamping type of connector that may be assembled without special tools. Other objects are to provide such a connector requiring a minimum number of parts; a connector thatis easily manufactured and assembled; and one that is reliable in operation.

I accomplished these and other objects and obtain my new results as will be apparent from the device described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the connector and conductors used therewith.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the parts in an assembled position.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of an alternate embodiment of a connectorduring installation.

Generally, my invention comp-rises a knife-like spacer which is pushed into a resilient C-shaped housing, the opposing walls of which are shaped into conductor receiving seats.

Specifically, the C-shaped housing 10 can be made of springy sheet metal with an arched back 12 joining two walls 14 and 16 curved to provide conductor receiving seats 18 and 20.

The knife or spacer element 22 may be made of similar material in a substantial U shape, provided with curved wing sections 24 and 26 to correspond with the conductor receiving seats 18 and 20. The wing sections terminate in a rounded leading edge 28 for entering the opening 30 of the housing 10. The knife element 22 is pivoted about rivet 38 which is inserted through opening 40 in housing 10 and opening 42 in the extension 44 of the knife element 22. 7

Instead of sheet metal, the parts may be made of extruded metal having the desired cross section. The spacer element may be made of solid metal instead of having a U-shaped cross section.

The thickness of the leading edge of the knife element 22 is slightly greater than the distance between conductors at the seats 18 and 20. This slight difference provides a snap or locking action on installation of the knife between conductors 32 and 34. The dimensions of the housing and knife are such that when the knife is forced between the conductors, the housing is resiliently opened, the knife supplying the contact pressure. The knife element 22 is prevented from collapsing by spacer elements 46 and 48.

The knife may be provided with a pair of ears 36 located on one end of the leading edge and extending below it.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the ears may be inserted underneath the positioned conductors and the knife pivoted downward into the closed position. The cars maintain the proper knife position and insure that the conductors will be properly seated when the knife is closed.

The connector can be installed by hand and without tools, in the matter of seconds, affecting a saving in time over other installation methods. A reliable electrical contact is provided by the light but constant force provided by the interengagement of the resilient housing and the inserted knife. This may be distinguished from compression and bolted connectors which rely on the ability of the connector body to retain some unknown part of the initially tremendous force supplied during installation.

My device has the additional advantage, during installation of causing a wiping" action between the con-. ductors and the current carrying knife. This action serves to cut through the oxide film, thus providing a sound electric joint.

I have thus described my invention but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular form or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentality coming within the scope of the appended claims, by means of which objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiment herein shown and described is only one of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

I claim:

1. A knife type electrical connector for a plurality of side by side conductors comprising a longitudinally extending housing member having an opening at both ends and a slot extending between said openings laterally through the wall of said housing member; a knife member having a leading edge for transverse movement through said housing member slot; a conductor receiving seat provided on each side of said knife member; a mating conductor receiving seat provided in said housing member on each side of said slot; pivot means provided on one end of said knife member; and including means to operatively connect said pivot means to said housing member; force receiving means provided on the other end of said knife member; whereby said knife member is adapted for pivotal transverse insertion into said housing member; at least one of said members being made of re- V silient metal that is stressed when conductors are secured therebetween. I

' 2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises an ear for positioning under a conductor seated in said housing member.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises an element interconnecting said housing and knife members.

4. A knife type electrical connector for a plurality of side by side conductors comprising a longitudinally ex tending housing member having an opening at both ends; a slot extending between said openings laterally through the wall of said housing member; a knife member having a leading edge for transverse movement through said housing member slot; a conductor receiving seat provided on each side of said knife member, and a mating conductor receiving seat provided in said housing member on each side of said slot; means to fix one end of said knife member with respect to one end of said housing member for transverse insertion of said knife member into said housing member by the pivoting of the other end of said knife about said means; at least one of said members being made of a resilient material that is stressed when conductors are secured therebetween.

5. A knife type electrical connector for a plurality of side by side conductors, comprising: a longitudinally extending housing member having an opening at both ends; a slot extending bet-ween said openings laterally through the wall of said housing member; a knife member having a leading edge for transverse movement through said housing member slot; a conductor receiving seat provided on each side of said knife member, and a mating conductor receiving seat provided in said housing member on each side of said slot; means to pivot said knife member with respect to said housing member for transverse insertion of said knife member into said housing member, including an ear on said knife member for positioning under a conductor seated in said housing member; at least one of said members being made of a resilient material that is stressed when the conductors are secured therebetween.

6. A knife type electrical connector for a plurality of side by side conductors, comprising: a longitudinally extending housing member having an opening at both ends; a slot extending between said openings laterally through the wall of said housing member; a knife member having a leading edge for transverse movement through said housing member slot; a conductor receiving seat provided on each side of said knife member, and a mating conductor receiving seat provided in said housing member on each side of said slot; means to pivot said knife member with respect to said housing member for transverse insertion of said knife member into said housing member, including an element interconnecting said housing and knife members; at least one of said members being made of a resilient material that is stressed when the conductors are secured therebetween.

Cohen Apr. 24, 1928 Cope Feb. 1, 1938 

